Note: LateNighter’s late night daily ratings reports are drawn from Nielsen live-plus-same-day data and do not take include delayed and/or streaming views. They are generally posted on a two (business) day delay, which is how they are released by Nielsen.
As one might expect, after more than a week of repeats, broadcast’s late-night programming gained viewers on Wednesday relative to the previous week, while most shed viewers from the day before–which was season premiere night.
CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert defeated its counterparts handily on Wednesday, Sept. 4, averaging 1,708,000 total viewers with 213,000 P18-49 at 11:35 p.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -17% in total viewers and -2% in P18-49 viewers from Tuesday’s episode; but gained +47% and +58%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday (Aug. 28). Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and Jack Lowden appeared on Wednesday’s Late Show.
Over at ABC, the Wednesday, Sept. 4 edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1,281,000 total viewers with 149,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. Wednesday’s Kimmel gained +1% in total viewers, but shed -27% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s episode; while gaining +60% and +12%, respectively, from the week-ago episode. Peter Dinklage, and John Legend appeared on the program.
The Wednesday, Sept. 4 edition of NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon averaged 1,024,000 total viewers with 172,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -6% in total viewers, but +20% in P18-49 viewers from the previous day’s episode; -2% but +47%, respectively, from the week-ago episode. Justin Theroux, and Simone Biles appeared on Wednesday’s Fallon. Cage the Elephant performed.
Following Wednesday’s Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers beat its timeslot counterparts by averaging 754,000 total viewers with 138,000 P18-49 at 12:35 a.m., per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s down -5% in total viewers, but up +22% in P18-49 from the previous day’s episode; +25% and +106%, respectively, from the week-ago episode. Dax Shepard, and Carrie Coon appeared on the program.
Following Wednesday’s Late Show, the Taylor Tomlinson-led After Midnight averaged only 490,000 total viewers with 61,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -26% in total viewers, and -42% in P18-49 from the day before; +13% and -25%, respectively, from the week-ago episode ( a rebroadcast). Guy Branum, James Davis, and Kate Micucci appeared on the program.
Following Kimmel, ABC News’ Nightline averaged 616,000 total viewers with 74,000 P18-49, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. That’s -16% in total viewers and -32% among P18-49 from the day before; +12% and -19%, respectively, from the previous Wednesday Nightline.
Comedy Central’s The Daily Show was on hiatus last week and did not air on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Wednesday’s complete ratings charts follow below.
Live+SD ratings (All Viewers 2+)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 1,281,000 | 4.64 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | 1,708,000 | 6.24 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 1,024,000 | 3.78 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline | 616,000 | 3.06 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 490,000 | 2.63 |
| NBC | Late Night with Seth Meyers | 754,000 | 4.04 |
Live+SD ratings (18-49 demo only)
| Network | Show Name | Total Viewers | % Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35 PM | |||
| ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | 149,000 | 2.65 |
| CBS | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | 213,000 | 3.81 |
| NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 172,000 | 3.11 |
| 12:35 AM | |||
| ABC | *Nightline | 74,000 | 1.78 |
| CBS | After Midnight | 61,000 | 1.56 |
| NBC | Late Night with Seth Meyers | 138,000 | 3.54 |
Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
